Being practical is about being smart – doing what’s needed to take care of yourself. This includes things like paying the bills, ensuring there’s a roof over your head and taking steps to set yourself up for the future.  Yet all work and no play makes Jack and Jane dull people, so where is there space for play and passion?

Comic Jerry Seinfeld shared his perspective on finding fulfillment with Duke University’s graduating class. He joked that passion is over-rated, it’s too much effort.  Far easier and better to focus on fascination – let your interests drive you because you will feel compelled to pursue things that engage you. I was excited to see an academic graduation happening and also appreciated Jerry’s suggestion. At the same time, I’m a fan of passion.

What’s love got to do with it you may ask?  Well, if you don’t care about something, you’re not going to feel particularly inspired or motivated to pursue it further. I am fascinated by many things, but that doesn’t mean I give them more than a passing glance.  Things I’m passionate about (like tango, crystals, cacao or any kind of dancing …), well those light me up and I want to learn as much as possible about them.

Perhaps another nuance for me is how too often we split the head and the heart. Fascination tends towards the mind and could become more of an analytical exercise, whereas passion is full-bodied and requires you to include your head, heart and instincts.  Passion incorporates all of your energy.

What things are you passionate or curious about? This can be a challenging question for those who don’t allow themselves the opportunity to consider something slightly erotic, particularly around work. I know AI is a recent fascination for many. Blockchain was the hot thing before that. Now there’s nothing wrong with pursuing the latest sexy subject or getting excited about some shiny new thing. That’s a smart way to combine your interests with being practical.  I say “have at it!”

But what if you just don’t give a sh*t about technology, or are less intrigued by the intricacies of disruptive financial technologies?  That doesn’t mean there’s no place for you in the current landscape. The world is calling out for change. We are desperate for people with great ideas, who have strong interpersonal skills, are willing to address the complexities of ethical quandaries or who want to build sustainable solutions. Maybe you just love hiking, crafting herbal remedies, or working with animals or solving word puzzles in you spare time.  There may be incredible and untapped opportunities available in any and all of these perhaps less glamorous niches.

Connect the dots

The key is understanding what you care about, why it matters and how you can translate your interests into something meaningful that others may have an interest in paying you for.  If no one will pay for it, then maybe your interest remains a hobby, and you get a day job to support yourself.  Or you dig to find out how to make the bucks doing something you find engaging that can make a bigger impact.

One rule of thumb is to follow the money. Yet I’ve never found that money alone is what motivates most people, unless you’re a salesperson and you live for your commission.  Even then, most of salespeople I know want more – respect, recognition, credit for their ideas. They just expect to be highly paid for their effort since they put themselves out there to bring revenues and clients in the door.

My point here is that your work should be aligned with a higher purpose and what you value, whether that’s exploration and discovery, connection and community, play and creativity or anything else.  Whatever lights you up.  Which brings me back to passion.  You have to know and pursue what truly motivates you, so you can do more of that.  If you feel completely disconnected from what you’re doing and why, then you’re likely to be unhappy.

I’ve heard disappointing tales of career coaches telling people they need to have XYZ experience or obtain a graduate degree and get a certification or go through a battery of personality tests or twist themselves into a pretzel and pull their hair out (not in so many words). They guilt people into feeling bad about themselves to promote anxiety and scarcity.

To me this is absurd and unhelpful.  There are opportunities available, we just need to find them.  There are far better ways to inspire people to move forward. If you couldn’t tell, I’m a fan of the carrot, not the stick. I believe that love and compassion should encourage effort and action.

I know you are a fascinating person with multiple interests and much to contribute to the world.  Why? Because you are reading my newsletter and I am certain you bring together a uniquely complex conglomeration of all experiences, whether you realize it or not. Are you letting yourself be yourself, do what you enjoy and have fun?  This requires setting aside keeping busy, trying to get ahead, competing with others to prop yourself up to look and feel better. Those strategies don’t work for long.

BEING YOURSELF

You have to do you!  It’s true, everyone else is taken. So what are the things that you care about that are unique to you?  That improv class you took  or the time you spent taking care of a sick parent or the off-color jokes you think up that are politically incorrect (be careful with those, but definitely consider stand-up comedy like one of my clients). Those passions are fascinating – not just to you, but to others.

There’s a whole world of internet and IRL interest groups out there waiting for you. I’m not suggesting you become a social media influencer because who knows how many of them actually make any money.  Yet, why not explore what lights you up.  Go down the rabbit hole and see where it takes you.

Your quirks are your superpowers, not detractors.  Recognize that who you are and what you care about matters.  There may be gold for you to mine if you just gave yourself permission to explore.  Maybe it’s time to go spelunking to uncover what’s going on under the surface.

If you couldn’t guess, I like to dive deep.  If you’re interested in doing some cave exploration, I’m in.  Life is a big adventure and we’re meant to discover our part.  If you’re ready for more passion, let’s setup a Discovery Call to see where that could lead!